The Opelousas courier., 1887-11-12
4 POLITICAL MANIFESTO,
Gov. HcEnery Denounced for Pro-
teeting Life and Properly.
Knights of Labor Who Pronose to
Strike Down the Sugar
Industry.

SANCTUARY DISTRICT ASSEMBLY,
No. lG2, Knights of Labor,

No. 102, Knights of Labor, |
New Orleans, Nov. II, 1877 |
At q meeting of District Assembly No. 1922
Knights of Labor, held on the above date, |
the following preamble and resolutions were |
unanimously adopted and ordered pub |
lished:
Whereas, it has come to the knowledge of |
this district assembly, officially and through
the daily press, that a circular enaanating |
from the Joint Local Executive Board,
knights Of Labor, parish of Lafourche, ask
ing an increase IN wages, IN conformity with
a scale of wages establishes by District As
semhly NO. 1914, was presented to the sugar
planters; and
Whereas, said circular, couched in re-
spectful and courteous language, was entire
ly ignored by said planters and treated with
contempt; and
Whereas. said planters, In meeting as
sembled, did agree to earnestly combine and
resolve that under no circumstances would
they recognize any labor organization or pay
the wages, or to the manner OF payment,
asked for in the circular: and that said
planters did further resolve to eject all of
rtheir employees who would go on strike, from
their plantations, and blacklist said en-
| ployes; and
Whereas, without. color of authority OF ne
cessity, the Chief Executive of the State of
Louisiana ordered out State troops to, en-
force the aggressive and arbitrary will of
Whefeas, sherid's posses, assisted by detec-
tiyes or police, did arrest certain OF the
laborers; and
Whereas, we areinformed that said sherif's
posse, detectives or police, backed by State
troops, killed four or more laborers, without
proToeation, while said laborers were under
arrest; and
laborers were ready to leave, and did leave
the plantations whenever requested; there
fore, be it :.
laborers in the employ Of the aforesaid
sugar planters in the parish OF Lafourche
and adjoining. parishes, had no other re-
course to obtain tEelr just demand but to
discontinue work until their demands were
satisfied OF a hearing given them. Be it fur
therH
KeSotyed, That we condemn and censure
the actions Of the GhleI EAecutlSe OF the
the State troops to be uncalled for, and with
out authority or precedent, and that We adj
monish the Governor of the State OF Louis.
lana that he shall not override, the rights OF
her citizens to peaceably assemble ,and ask a
fair compensation for their honest labor; and
that he. must respect the Constitution and
laws of this State, and cease the offensive dis
play or use Of military force during a con-
~troyersy between employer and employe,
when no attempt is made or, intended to
violate law nd TIE peace ana the dignity OF
Rescued, That from information, IN our
possession we believe that the lawlesss de-
, ~btruction Of human life by the armed force
employed was assassination, and we pro;
noInce against it and demand that the legal
Constituted authorities, by the process of
Law. 90 thoroughly investigate the killing OF
the laEorers at Pattersonv1lle, and bring the
sayers before the bar of justice for such
punishment as they may be found deserving
Rpso1ged. That as District Assembly 1o2
. and HE whole order Of the Knights OF
I Labor have pronounced in unmlstakabie
r language against Anarchy aud the unlaWfu!
taking of human life, we also pronounce
/. against any armed force of men, whether
A sherfffs' posses, detectives, police or military
G troops, taking the life OF inoffenslye citizens
while peacefully exercising their rights.
BE it further resolved, Thai this DIS
( trict Assembly, in unMensursd terms
deolores the actions of the Planters Asso'
i citation, and in deplOTing we give them
: fair warning that when Sreek meets
t we will at once appeal TO our millions o.
e workingmen to ask at the hands OF Con
greys the repeal of the duties ON sugar
which will Ia the end bring them TO :
i? sense of Justice and OF the rights OF other!
Q ana benefit the whole people OF thes'
United States.
sembly appoint d committee to immediatel,,
e Investigate all matters concerned, hereW1Jl
expressed in these resolutions, ana see ina
perfect justice is done; That TINS RlstEic
Assembly use every endeaTor TO asslst IN
committee in the furtherance OF this obJeel
b Be IL Jurtfe7. gesolUed, That the ExeGutlY
Board take such steps az VIII lnaterialIy an
b tic committee in accomplishing the en-,
n sought for, and that we pledge our entlr
d moral and financial support in this direction
d GA Nichols Organs Endorsement.
d Evening News, Nichols Organ.
e The Knights Of Labor have spoken upo
II the question OF the use Of military force
l. eoerce the wor1lnen OF this State to perfor1
|, labor for capitM at the price dictated TO theI
Ia by c~apital. Strong resolutions have bee
70 prepared and passed by them condemnln
y fine needless shedding of blood by the mllif1l
J. and armed posse brought into requisltlon. .
!. the Governor for the purpose OF oFeraWln
" labor in It's demand for just coppensatIoI
Outside OF political predictions the eondut
Of The present ad n bnl fn,ts n f Pas STAT az
and city, and there seems. to be no otht
mode Of reaching the evil than that OF ~
minatine resolutions condemnatory OF I'll
conduct Of Gov. McEnery.
a. If the protests of labor, many times r
Y; peated, win not stay the hand OF power n I
!. ndiscriminate use against honest INDUSTRY
Ne nerhaps the more potent ballot cast by 10,
=. 100 hd Aest toilers will bring the Goyerpc
u and his minions to the proper realizatio
il that labor is a force in this state, and WIS VIZ
al wantonly trampled upon, they can delVt
e. telling blows in their defense.